Disappearing-table cabinet.



UNITED sTATEs PATENT OEEICE..

. DISAPPEARING-TABLE CABINET.l

speciscaenmY of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12p, 1907.

Continuation of application Serial No. 302.722, filed February 24. 1906. This application filed December 5. 1906. Serial No 346,465.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HENRY CARROLL, a citiz'en of the United States of America, residing at Jersey 5 This application is in part acontinuation of my iorn'ier` application Serial Number 302,722. Filed Feb. l24th.

This invention has for its object to provide an inexpensive cabinet comprising an open-topped box containing a table which, with the machine or appliance it supports, is adapted for lowering or disappearance within the cabinet which has a cover concealing the lowered table and the machine or appliance thereon and 'protecting them from injury and from dust and dirt when out of use, while allowing quick* raising of the table to bring the machine or appliance into convenient and most effective and attractive operative position. The cabinet also provides room for storing within it detachable or interchangeable parts of the contained machine or appliance, or reference data for use therewith, whereby said parts or data may always be conveniently at hand when required and alsofwill be protected from injury andlr from dust and dirt when'not in use. s n

It now is proposed to utilize the invention more especially/for holding a phonographor-graphophone with its records or disks, or a music box and its interchangeable cylinders` or for holding a telephone and its directory, or for holding a glass o1' silver service which it may beidesirable to ordinarily conceal; but the invention is not restricted to such uses.

The inventionsconsists in certain novel features oi construction and combinations of parts o the cabinet whereby when its vertically movable table is raised the cabinet cover will wholly or mainly disappear below the top of the cabinet box orbody to give unobstructed range in all directions of the tone emitting trumpet of a phonograph or graphophone, or of the tones from a music box mechanism, resting on the raised table while giving full view of the instrument from all sides of the cabinet; or toafford the reest possible access at or from all sides to a telephone which may be supported on the raised table.

The invention further includes a special construction of the cabinet with a twopart.slide or counterweight having one part coupled to the cabinet cover and the other part connected to the table in manner permitting automatic raising ot the table as the slide and hinged cover are lowered, and so as to permit iull lowering and raising ofA a wide cabinet -cover whilethe table rises and falls a distance less than the range of vertical-movement of the cover to accommodate within the cabinet a Inachine or appliance or device having a height less than the width of the cover, or o the cover and slide.

' The invention will first be described and then will be particularly defined in claims hereinafter set forth. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming part o this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a frontpartly broken vertical sectional` elevation of one preferred style of the improved cabinet with one door removed and its table raised and sustain; ing an ordinary partly shown phonograph, the section being taken on the line a-a in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section oi the cabinet, taken on the line b-b in Fig. l, but showing the table' and phonograph lowered within the closed cabinet. Fig. 3 is a partial transverse sectional view showing the table raised and sustaining the phonograph in operative position. Fig. 4 is a partial vertical transverse section showing a modiication in which a phonograph is specially iitted to a hinged top on the cabinet table. Fig. 5 is a broken plan view of opposite end portions of the open cabinet, in horizontal section on the line c-c in Fig. l. is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the lined-, d in Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse sectional View of a modified cabinet specially adapted to sustain a telephone and its directory from a desk or other support. v I

The illustrated cabinet has a generally square or rectangular form, but it may be otherwise shaped as the v particular conditions of its use may suggest or require.

In the drawings the numerals 1, 1, indicate two opposite end walls, and 2, 3, respectively indicate iront and rear walls, all forming with the bottom 4, the body portion oi the cabinet which is a box-like structure open at the top. It is preferred to exteriorly ornament said body by a surrounding top molding 5, which is preferably rabbeted to overlie the top of the box walls andis specially' formed so as to have next the end` walls 1, l and the iront wall 2, aiange or tongue 6. This flange 6, however it may be formed, projects into the interior cabinet chamber 7 and constitutes a special double stop which by its lower tace limits the rising movement of a table vertically movable within said chamberf', and by its upper face forms a jamb and rest for the closed cabinet cover 8.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the cabinet table 9 is shown as an open-topped box adapted to receive a phonograph 10, or other appliance, inthe usual form in which it is sold commercially, while in Figl of the drawings, the table 9 is substantially like the one 9, but has hinged to it at 12 a suitable plate 13 to which a phonograph 10, or a graphophone or other mechanically driven appliance is specially fitted with the machine proper 10 above the plate andits driving mechanism`14 below the plate. In Fig. 7 ot the drawings the table 11 is inverted or has a plane closed top andpendent Fig. 6

Walls forming' guides' during its vertical movements',

and is more especially' adapted tosu'sta'in a telephone l,v 'or a glass orv silver service, or any'srt or other obje( o val'ue'itA may-be desirable to temporarily. expose and usel andl later conceal and protect within the closed cahie'tf Referring nowmore' especially to Figs. 1,' 2', 3,4, and G'of the -.drawings, thenuxnemls 16,' 16, indicatevert'ical grooves or' .slidewa'ys preferably .triade4 ,in the opposite end 'wallsg'1,'.1, 'and qui-te'clos'e to the rear wall Soi the/ cabinet. I uthese'vgrooves vare-adapted vto :nove the' cabinet' cover 8, and 'aelidepreierably fog fried in'tw'o parte '1-7., 18, the part 17 being' greferably made Oliwood to promote convenient coupling or hingingof itat 19 vtothe cover 8, and the .part being preferabl,Y made o'f 'metal to serve asa counterweiglrt to the loaded'table- 9,'fo'xl which 'purpose also "the wood part' 17 maybe" cover 8 at 19' to the'slide portion417 perniitsthecovr when raised clear of the grooves-'16,' to -'old down flat upon the flange stop .6, and allowsa latch 'bolt 2 1 in the cover. to engage 'beneath a catch plate 22' 'on the'front rnolding 5, to .holdrlfe co'ver closed. v.Any suitable 23, 24, at the same end of the' cabinetbody o r box are `laothconnelcted at 25 toene end of the lower slide portion 18, 'whence they pass together-'over' the same deeply grooved p ulley guide 26 journaled to the cabi- Y net wall. One cord 23 passesdirectly' downward from said pulley 26 and is'con'e'c'ted a't'27to the end of the table '9 near' its rear edge or part, while-'the' other cord 24, after passing over the 'pulley. 2'6, runs forward and passes over a iront pulley guide 28' and passes thence downward to connect at'29 with the end of the table n'ear its front edge or'part. provided along-the inner. aces'of the 'cover and the two'- part slide to recei ve thetable-sustaining cords 23, V24',

and the cord pulleys 2 6, 28, and all'forward portions' .of the cords and their pulley guides are accommodated 'within recesses` 31 formed in the cabinet end' wall.

Referring now to the telephone cabinet shown in' 1 `ig. 7 of the drawings, it' will appear that when the connterweight for the table vis made-in one pa'rt or n letahplugged piece .32 hinged orjcoupled at 19 tothe cabinet cover 8, the uppercords 23, 24 at thesame en dol' the table are .connected at 25 to one end of thisslide or -counterweight This View also shows that two .cabinet cover and slide arelifted in 1'the wallv grooves' 16, preparatory to finally closing and latching theA cover." This modified cabinet which is specially adapted to hold a telephone 15,-indicated by dotted lines, may be held to the side wallof a desk 40, or otherl Grooves 30 are or may be.

support, by an" inexpensive and readily" attachable bracketll.

A drawer. 42 is provided belowthelowere'd telephone vtable in which tov hold fthe telephonedire'ctoryA, or l other adjunct of the instrument,l o'r the' drawer' may bev removed andthe directorylthen be' placed inthe 'drawer space' of the cabinet. lntthe larger-cabinet shown in Figs.' 1 'and 2 of the'niwings, series 'of 'I drawers or' trays 44 'are provided below. the "vertically 'movable phonograph 'table'.9, .andthese trays have the'V 'usual pegs -fon'which-the records'` 46 are' placed,v

whereb'y all'the records` are'pgpte'ct'edfrom injury and' 'from dust'an'd di'rt within 'the closed cabinet .and are' I'easily 'accessible by opening its r'ont'door 'or 4doors 47. The upper part of one en'l wall' of tlieca'binet has a hole 4 8 through which the' anialehead of acrank-49will'be passed v'forjentering'g it intov the 'end bI'ienngv '50.0 the case inclosing'the driving mechanism-of' the ph'onograph 'for winding its actuating spring.

The operation 'of't'he table .inthe cabinet-having the4 two-part slide or counterweighl. 17', 18, is as followsf- 'Suppose the table 9 to be fully lowered and the'co-v'erv 8 to be 'latchefi shut to, protecta phonographlO or 'other machine or appliance onitheitable within the closed cabinet, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, it'- 'only is necessary to release 'the'latch 21, 'andthe slide 17, 18

will fall in the grooves 1 6 ofthe walls 1', 1 as the cover, after being opened into 'line with' theslide, is lowered with it into these grobves` rfoward the latter part of' vthis lowering-movement the cords or wires 2?, 24 couble 9, will automatically lift the table and the phonopled to the'd'escending slideportion 18', and to the tafgraph lO' or other appliance upon it until 'thetabl'e strikes the upper4 stop fiange 6 :to which itk will be snugly held level by the slide or counterweight. -'It will be noticed that both above parts 1'7, 8, will at first' belowered some distance in the slotsl Without rais? i'ng the table 9, and while the grooves 30'in said' parts 17, 8,' slipalong the 'cord connections '23, 24,' and-the l table therefore will not be liftedV f roinits normalA lowered position until after the main slide portion 17 strikes the lower slide portion 18. When 4this oc'curS lthe cords 23, 24, will be 'drawnupon as both slide parts 17, 18 descend together with thepover '8 inthesl'ots v16,' and where: y the table 9' will be raised tothe flange stop-6, as above described, y 'The cover 8 thenis quite fully` down' in the grooves 16, as shown in Fig'. v3 0 1" 'the drawings, and the phonograph isv in ull View from'all sides ofthe cabinet to satisfy the' eyes of assembled p persons, While the. wide range of.' horizontal adjustuliy satisfy the hearing of`all the'compan'y'. It is Anot possible-thnsto' satisfy the` sight and'hearing of an assemblage when anA opened phonograph or music. box

.cabinet cover` stands who'lly or f considerably above' the'support on which the instrument rests" while in use, 4and especally'f when thenstrument-is sustained '.below the top of the main-body'portion'o thecabinet.

In closing'this improved-cabinet the cover'8, and slide parts 17,' 18, are raised in the Aslots.1'6 .2 \s the table'Q'falls and Until the table again rests normally Iupon stops 51v .fixed to end walls o the cabinet, and the 'slide part 18 then also rests while the slide part 17 is drawn upward bythe cover 8, as the grooves 30 in the parts 8, 17, slip along the cords 23, 24, and until the cover 8 canbe folded down flat upon its hinge 19l to the boxcflange 6' to close the' cabinet and iully protect thephonograph or other appliance therein, as shown'in Fig. 2 oi the drawings.

' The'above" described Acabinet having the twopart slide or counterweight 17, 18, eis' morehespecially desirable for inclosing long and low' appliancesor machimes, such as a phonograph or'graphophone or amu? vsic boxl mechanism, which does not require a consider-' A able rising movement of the table 9 to bring the sound giving or"controlling mechanism or devices into advantageous .operative position clear` above .the top' of the main body portioiiof the cabinet,l o r which requires a range of vertical lmovement of the table -less'than the width o the .cabinet cover.

' toit and to the table with interposed rear and-frontuntil the table strikes the stop 6,v and the telephone f.

When .theslideor-counterweight is made in lone piece 32, the twocords or wires .23, 24, are connected guides o'r pulleys 26, 28,A as shown in the telephone cabinet in Fig. f7 of the drawings.- In this 'modified cabinet the table -11 will begin to rise immediately the open cover S commences its descent inthe grooves v16 with the slide`3'2 acting as a counterweigh't., The' telephone 15 supported on the table thus will be raised now is easilyaccessible from any or all sides of the cabinetbecanse the cover 8 now is nearly all down in the' grooves 16'. The shallow portion oi the cabinet chamber 'Z above the fully raised table'11,-iorms a` recess\vhich facilitates quick and correct replacement of the telephone upon the table prior to. again closing the cabi net. Said closing iseecte'd by lifting the cover 8, and slide 32,.together in the'grooves 16, until the cover rises clear of'saidgrooves, and the coverthen is folded down upon its hinge 19, so as to close against thestop s, and win'be iockedby the, latchaeviee 21; This telephone `cabinet; gives :complete protection 'to the -unused instrument against injury and meddling and dust-and dirt. Whether the instrument is in use or not, the top of the desk 40 to which the cabinet may be held is never obstructed by the telephone, and the whole-o said desk top therefore is always available -or I all legitimate uses of a desk.'

Whether the slide or counterweight be madein two independently movable parts 17, 18, 'or in one partl 32, it gives opportunity for a substantial and nicely finished hinge connection of -it at 19'with the cabinet :cover 8, and the sl-ide also pi'romotes smoothness `and topped box, a table movablewithin the box, a cover adapt;

s'teadiness of operation a'nd durability of as the v cabinet is opened and closed.

It will be understood that the coupling of the cabinet cover and slide may beeff'ected otherwise than by the preferred hinge 19, -or in any manner permitting v operation of the slide relatively'to the cover and table substantially as hereinb'eiorev set forth.

I- claim as my invention 1. A,dsappearingtable cabinet, comprsing'nn 'opened to close the box, a slide hinged vto the cover and adapted substantially as described.

` the table as the twopart slide and `open cover' are lowe -said stop,` a cover adapted to close the box, a slide com 'an open-topped box-having grooves at its o tomo-ve with the open cover 'along a vertical wall of the A box, and connections .between the table and slide adapted v to raise` the tableas the slide and open cover are lowered in the box, substantially as described.

2. disappearing-table cabinet, comprising an opentopped box, va `table movable within the box, a cover adaptled to close 4the box,'a slide hinged tothe cover and adapted to' move with` the open cover along -a vertical wall of the box, and flexible connections between the table and slide adapted to raise the table as the slide andcover are lowered in thebox, substantiallyas described.

3. A disappearing-table cabinet, comprising '-an opentopped box, a substantially level table movable up and down within the box, a cover adapted to close the box, a' slide hinged'to the cover and adapted to move with the open cover along a vertical wall -of the box, and connections between the table and slide adapted to -raise the table Aas the slideandopen cover are lowered in the box, substantially as described.

4. A disappearing-table cabinet, comprising an open- 'topped box, a substantially level table movable up-and down within the box, a .cover-adapted 4to close the'box, a slide hinged to the coverand adapted to move with the open cover. 'along -a vertical wall of the box, and llexible 6. A disapbearing-table cabinet, comprising an opentoppedbox, a table movable within the box, a cover adapted to close the box, aslidemade in two-parts including one part hinged to the cover-and a' subjacent part, said -..twopart slide being adapted to move with the open cover along a vertical wall ofthe box, and connections between the .table and the subjacent part of the slide for raislncf in the box; said two-part slide permitting a range of vcz' tical movement of the open covergreater than the vos tical movement of the table,substantially as described.

T. A disappearingltable' ,cabinet,v comprising an' opr'fl` topped box having at its upper' part a stop project within its chamber, a table movable within the box be.

to the cover and adapted tomove with the open along'a vertical wall of the' box, and connections bei th'e table and slide adapted to raise the table to the if box stop as the slide and open cover tare loweed in the box,l substantially as described.

v 8. In a disappearing-table cabinet, thecombi tion with ggosite end walls, ofa table. movable within the box, a slide movable `in-thev grooves, a cover coupled tothe slide and adapted to close the box and movable with the slide in said grooves, and 'cords or wires connected to the 4table and slide and adapted torraise the table as the slide and cover are lowered in the box, substantially as described.

9. In a dlsappearngtable cabinet, the combination with an open-topped box having an upper stop and provided with grooves at opposite endv walls, of a substantially level table movable in the box below the stop. a slide movable in the grooves, a cover coupled to the slide and adapted to close the box and movable with vthe slide in said grooves, and cords'or wires connected to the table and slide'and adapted to raise the table to the stop as the slide and v cover are lowered in the box, substantially as described.

v WILLIAM HENRY CARROLL.

Witnesses z ALvxN K. Goonwxx,

- WILLIAM .T. WELL'S. 

